Hypnotised subject in pain research. An electrical signal is used to stimulate a pain response in the subject's ankle. The nerve signals transmitting this pain are measured by electrodes on the subject's thigh. The subject has been hypnotised to enable the doctor to 'teach' her to deal with the pain by creating her own 'analgesic' response. In this way, the research programme hopes to develop self-help techniques for dealing with mild pain at a psychological level, rather than relying on analgesic drugs.